Not your usual aura

By mjritchey

1 min read

I have been reading your site and I'm so glad I found it. I have chronic migraines with 18-22 migraines a month. I've tried many prophylactic (medicinal) as well as herbal remedies that haven't worked. I take abortive medications (triptans) and if I catch it in time I'm usually safe; otherwise, it only gets worse.

I don't have the visual aura that is described in this web page, but I do have an emphatic warning that a migraine is imminent. My "aura" is sensitivity to noise. I also get very irritable and I snap at people for no reason. It's taken me many years to realize the warnings, but I'm glad I did. I'm lucky my husband is aware of what is happening and takes no offense.

Do others experience this warning?

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Migraine.com team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

Join the conversation

Please read our rules before commenting.

Katie M. Golden Moderator
Jritchey, So funny that you mention irritability as a warning sign today. Did you see the post written by Kerrie? She fully describes the same thing. <a href='https://migraine.com/blog/mood-swings-a-warning-sign' target='_blank'>http://migraine.com/blog/mood-swings-a-warning-sign/</a> I absolutely get that way too. I would snap at coworkers over the simplest things. I'm usually so easy going. It's hard to recognize it, adjust your attitude and realize you need to take your meds!
kanzz Member
I don't get a visual either. I get an auditory that I can only describe as sounding like a very loud tuning fork suddenly being pressed against my skull, just above my ear. It is so sudden that I sometimes snap my head away and cover my ear with my hand. It took years for me to figure out that this was a precursor to a migraine, usually within 24 hours.
lisariley Member
I get an olfactory one as well as auditory and visual. I smell cigar smoke. A good Cuban cigar, which in Idaho is a huge rarity. Then the tinnitus that is always present ramps up to the point it sounds like someone is running their finger around a crystal glass rim. Then I add in the pretty stripes and flashes. The cigar smoke is usually the warning to find the triptan. I don't wait for the others, because all heck will break out if I do.
saffstar Member
I get very sensitive to noise and smell before a migraine
suesulk Member
I absolutely have an extreme sensitivity to sound as well as a very uncomfortable feeling in my ears, not ringing, not exactly pain per say, not a stuffed up feeling, but definite dizziness, too...never been able to accurately describe it, but I now recognize the warning...more irritability than usual also..(-; Unfortunately, after decades of chronic migraines, I have been unable to find a very effective abortive med ( cannot take triptans) so usually end up having to take rescue meds,altho certainly trying not to take those too often because of MOH/ rebound